Platform and shop based hawkers will need ID cards and a regularly renewable licence in order to continue doing business. A new scheme announced by the Madras High Court indicates

Identity Cards (ID) will be issued to all existing enumerated hawkers. The process of identification wherever it was not done will be completed by the implementation committee and ID cards will be issued to the existing hawkers between the date of the scheme and the first notified date. The remaining hawkers will be given ID cards and they will be allotted earmarked space in the market. All the enumerated existing hawkers will apply for and obtain license from the corporation for the specified areas on and from the first notified date. Only hawkers with ID cards can carry on the business in the specified area covered by the scheme. All other hawkers shall be deemed as unauthourised persons and they will be summarily removed without prior notice, the bench added.

This new scheme excludes hawkers at the Marina, Elliots Beach and moveable vendors of vegetables, flowers etc.

As always, it remains to be seen how effective the implementation of this scheme turns out to be. For instance, hawkers on Usman Road already do business surreptitiously, folding up their wares based on movement of policemen. Will the new scheme provide more stability to the ones who do business on the platform?